Spain

A common feature in Spain's holy week is the almost general usage of the nazareno or penitential robe for some of the participants in the processions. This garment consists in a tunic, a hood with conical tip (capirote) used to conceal the face of the wearer, and sometimes a cloak. The exact colors and forms of these robes depend on the particular procession. The robes were widely used in the medieval period for penitents, who could demonstrate their penance while still masking their identity. These nazarenos carry processional candles or rough-hewn wooden crosses, may walk the city streets barefoot, and, in some places may carry shackles and chains on their feet as penance. In some areas, sections of the participants wear dress freely inspired by the uniforms of the Roman Legion.

The Fair in Sevilla dates back to 1847 when it was originally organized as a livestock fair by two councillors, José María Ybarra and Narciso Bonaplata. Queen Isabel II agreed to the proposal, and on 18 April 1847 the first fair was held at the Prado de San Sebastian, on the outskirts of the city.
It took only one year before an air of festivity began to transform the fair, due mainly to the emergence of the first three casetas, belonging to the Duke and Duchess of Montpensier, the Town Hall, and the Casino of Seville. During the 1920s, the fair reached its peak and became the spectacle that it is today.
La Feria of Abril is accompanied by men and women dressed up in their finery, ideally the traditional "traje corto" (short jacket, tight trousers and boots) for men and the "faralaes" or "trajes de flamenca" (flamenco style dress,) for women. The men traditionally wear hats.
Here a couple make there way to the fair on a moped.

The pointed hat seen here during Spain's Easter celebrations was worn by clowns and jugglers who wanted to portray clumsiness or stupidity during medieval times. Because of this, pointed hats were used when vexing criminals. The criminals were forced to wear pointed hats and walk through the streets, while people threw rotten vegetables at them, spat on them, and insulted them.
Later, during the celebration of the Holy Week/Easter in Mediterranean countries, "Penitentes" (people doing penitence for their sins) would walk through streets with pointed hats. It was a way of self-injury; however, they covered their faces so they wouldn't be recognized.
The capirote is not to be confused with the pointed hood worn by the member of the Ku Klux Klan, and predates such hoods.

The traje de flamenco has undergone changes over the century or more that it has been in widespread use. For example, in the 1960s and '70s, the skirts got shorter, with skirts reaching only to the middle of the calf or even to the knee. Beginning in the 1970s, the hemlines dropped back to the ankle.

In most cases, during the Spanish Easter celebrations the "pasos" are accompanied by Marching bands performing "Marchas procesionales" a specific type of compositions, devoted to the images and fraternities.

Cabo de Gata Nature Reserve is one of those places we shouldn't really write about in order to maintain the low key and unspoilt atmosphere. Sufficient to say, this is where most of the Andalucia adverts are filmed! Playa del Playazo.

Costaleros carrying an image of Christ along the narrow streets of Arcos de la Frontera. Lit by the moonlight and hundreds of candles. People line the cobbled stone streets and wait for the paso, (procession) to walk past. A saetta, (traditional) song, can be heard coming from one of the balconies.

A common feature in Spain's holy week is that every brotherhood carries magnificent "Pasos" or floats with sculptures that depict different scenes from the gospels related to the Passion of Christ or the Sorrows of Virgin Mary. Many of these floats are art pieces created by Spanish artists such as Gregorio Fernandez, Juan de Mesa, Martínez Montañés or Mariano Benlliure. Brotherhoods have owned and preserved these "pasos" for centuries.